title: Costimulatory genes: hotspots of conflict between host defense and autoimmunity.
abstract: To understand the adaptations of costimulatory molecules through mammalian evolution, Forni et al. (Forni et al., 2013) studied evolutionary selection in key costimulatory genes. Their results, presented in this issue of Immunity, suggest that the risk of autoimmmunity is balanced against efficacy of the anti-pathogen immune response.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Gordon J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Freeman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000235:genetics*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor